We were tasked with creating a soundtrack for this fun and characterful race through the generations of motor vehicles for this beautifully directed film for Toyota Corolla

Benny Goodman’s version of the Louis Prima's swing classic, ‘Sing Sing Sing’ had all the key playful elements to bring out the personality of the cars. Once we got the green light, we knew that the way to go was a bespoke re record. We wanted to get this to be authentic and seamlessly fit to picture and we knew that recording in a studio like Abbey Road, would be the best was to get the sound and atmosphere we wanted to create bring out the best of the musicians and captures their sound. 

It was important to hold on to the original dynamism off the brass, clarinet, and swinging drums and bass feel of the original 1937 version, but to also create the sonics around the film to give it the energy and drive it needed for the experience to be felt. This

informed how we recorded the musicians.

We isolated the rhythm section; guitar, upright bass, bass guitar, in separate booths and a grand piano behind a sound screen in the main studio. We close mic’d the brass section and arranged a selection of early EMI microphones in a semi-circle around and above them and a 3-way mic tree overhead to capture the ambience of the room. We sourced a period drum kit of the type that would have been used in the original recording, which had calf skin drum heads from the era. That kind of attention to detail was really important to us, we wanted it to be authentic but with a more modern sound.

Being able to separate the rhythm section gave us more control in the overall mix between brass and rhythm instruments, which was crucial as there would be a dense layer of foley and sound design to fit in. It was important to have that level of control over the elements so that we could create moments within the final mix.

It was an incredible day working with incredible musicians and our arranger, Guy Farley. It is a piece of work that we are exceptionally proud of.